Currycomb.



W. E. STEYDING.

CURRYGOMB.

APPLICATION FILED 00130, 1911.

1,030,141. Patented June 18,1912.

m? 4 N By 1 :illlh ATTOR/VE Y8 WILLIAM ERNEST STEYDING, OF LOGKPORT, NEW YORK.

CURRYCOMIB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 30, 1911.

Patented June 18, 1912.

Serial No. 657,399.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM E. STEYDING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Currycomb, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to curry combs, and it has for its object to provide a curry comb of simple form and arrangement having improved means for cleaning the operative surface of the comb, and also to insure a better grasp of the hand on the implement while in operation.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views and in which- Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a curry comb embodying the invention; Fig. 2 shows an inverted plan view; Fig. 3 shows a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a transverse sectional view taken on a line at right angles to the line 33, and in advance of the forward end of the cleaning hammer.

The device comprises a back portion 1 preferably rectangular in form and constructed of some suitable light but strong sheet metal. Upon its under surface the back portion 1 is provided with the parallel ribs 2, having at their lower edges the teeth 3. The ribs 2 are stamped up out of sheet metal and are preferably formed in pairs and integral with a plate 4:, the ribs 2 projecting at right angles to the plate 4:, and they are secured to the back portion 1 by means of rivets 5 which pass through the plates 4: and through the back plate 1.

As is well known to those skilled in the currying of horses, a curry comb rapidly clogs up with dirt and hair, and it is necessary to frequently remove the dirt and hair from the teeth of the comb in order to restore its eiiectiveness, and for this purpose, it is the common practice to either strike one corner of the curry comb against the floor or the side of a stall, or against a brush held in the other hand. This is not only liable to damage the comb, but it is of considerable inconvenience to the operator who is compelled to stop the currying work frequently, and often times to change his position in order to find a suitable place'against which to strike the corner of the comb for cleaning it. To obviate this annoyance and inconvenience, I have provided my improved curry comb with a pivoted hammer 6' which is made of metal and of suitable weight to deliver quite a blow to the back plate 1, and of a size to fit between an adjacent pair of the projecting ribs 2, and

when not in use, to be entirely within the working outline of the teeth 3 of the ribs 2, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. This hammer 6 is carried by an arm 7 which is formed integrally with a laterally extending bail por tion 8, the bail portion 8 being pivotally mounted in a sleeve 9 formed along one edge of the back plate 1. The bail member 8 is free to turn in the sleeve 9, and at one end, it is provided with a handle or lever 10 which extends along one edge of the back plate 1, and at its extreme end is outwardly turned as shown at 11. By means of the handle 10, the bail 8 may be rocked in the bearing 9, and thus impart a swinging movement to the arm 7 of the hammer 6. A leaf spring 12 is connected at one end to a supporting plate 13 which is secured by means of lugs 14 in a pair of adjacent ribs 2, and at its forward end it bears against the under side of the hammer head 6 in such manner that it normally holds the hammer head 6 against the under surface of the back plate 1 and within and above the working toothed edges 3 of the ribs 2.

In operation, whenever the working teeth 3 become clogged with dirt and hair, the operator presses down upon the handle 11, and thus depresses the hammer 6 against the tension of the spring 12, whereupon releasing the handle 11, the spring 12 returns it quickly to its normal position and causes it to deliver a sharp blow or impact to the under surface of the back plate 1, thus jarring or shaking the dirt and loose hair from the teeth 3.

Most curry combs as heretofore constructed, are provided wit-h a handle which extends from one edge thereof, but it is well known to those familiar with the use of such devices that this handle is seldom, if ever, used, as it is quite common to grasp the edges of the body portion of the comb itself, and in fact, the presence of the handle to some extent militates against the free use of the device. In order that the operaor bail 15, preferably made of light sheet metal and concaved, as shown at 16, so as to provide a curved inner surface 17. The bail 15 is secured to the back plate 1 by means of rivets 18.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to provide a curry comb with a hammer operated by a spring which may be used to deliver a blow or impact to the back of the curry comb for the purpose of cleaning the toothed ribs of the curry comb, but said hammer or knocker has been placed upon the upper surface of the back and arranged to deliver blows upon such upper surface. While this form of device will answer the purpose, it is objectionable in that the blows delivered upon the upper surface of the back have a tendency to cause the dust and dirt and loose hair removed from the animal to be drawn closer to the under surface of the back, whereas in my arrangement, the hammer being pivoted to the under surface and located between two of the parallel toothed ribs, the blows will be delivered to the under surface of the back of the curry comb, and in a manner to facilitate the stripping of the ribs and the propulsion of the dust and, loose hair away from the under surface of the back and the ribs of the curry comb.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A curry comb provided with parallel toothed ribs extending from the working face thereof, a hammer pivotally mounted at one edge of the curry comb and fitting between a pair of adjacent ribs, a spring normally supporting the hammer and holding it in contact with the inner face of the back plate, and a handle for rocking said hammer against the tension of said spring, said handle extending from one end of the pivot of the hammer along a side of the back plate.

2. A curry comb, comprising a back having a sleeve at one edge and provided with parallel toothed ribs projecting from its working face, a hammer arranged between a pair of the ribs and from which extends an arm having a bail port-ion mounted to turn in the sleeve of the back and terminating in a handle at one side of the said back, and a spring for normally holding the hammer against the inner face of the back.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in'the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM ERNEST STEYDING.

Witnesses:

\VM. JAYCHKE, OSWOLD QUAAs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

